Social inclusion of domestic tourism migrants: Evidence from four destinations in China

This study investigates social inclusion strategies and how they differ among various domestic tourism migrants. Through data collection in four Chinese destination cities, the current study: (1) develops a two-dimensional model of the social inclusion strategies of domestic tourism migrants, which includes four strategies (assimilate into local society, assimilate into parallel society, assimilate into reconstructed society, and non-assimilating); (2) identifies four groups of domestic tourism migrants (peripatetic visitors, amenity migrants, seasonal migrants, and full residents) based on their spatiotemporal mobility patterns; and (3) compares the variations in social inclusion strategies among different tourism migrants from different destinations. The results add to the body of knowledge on tourism migration and offer practitioners practical advice on how to make the destinations more appealing. • Data were collected via systematic, large-scale surveys in four cities in China. • Developed a model of domestic tourism-led migrants' social inclusion strategies. • Identifies four groups based on their spatiotemporal mobility patterns. • The choice of social inclusion strategy depends on both individual and destination factors. • Returning to hometown was necessary and positively influenced social inclusion.